50 Book Challenge 2019 Part One

[southeastdweller]

Welcome to the first thread of the 50 Book Challenge for this year.

The challenge is to read fifty books (or more!) in 2019, though reading fifty isn't mandatory. Any type of book can count, and please try to let us all know your thoughts on what you've read.

Who's in for this year?

Hello all. Nothing radically different to the norm on these threads about the two I finished last week:

1. Educated by Tara Westover

I enjoyed this and read long into the night to finish. It makes me feel a little unworthy - that perhaps I squandered the many opportunities that came my way! My Mum is from a family slightly similar to Tara's, although without the religious element, and she is also now very highly educated and at odds with her many siblings (as am I with my cousins). Tara explains the pull of families very well. Highly recommended.

1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I read this to my two sons (so yes Hug, I count novels I read to my kids) after much begging from my eldest who is 13. My 10 year old is an avid reader himself, so enjoys all stories. I'm not a gamer, and of course my kids knew nothing about the 80s, but we all enjoyed coming along on the quest. The 'dystopian' world created where everyone lives in their devices while the real world goes to pot also provoked a lot of discussion about online lives, and society then and now. I am really happy we read it.

For a change of pace I have started My Family and Other Animals with the kids as I have never read it, and it was my husband's favourite as a child. I am reading Bookworm. Feeling slightly ashamed at my lack of originality!

TimeforaGandT From what I can gather, The Reservoir Tapes started life as a specially commissioned series for Radio 4 which was then published as a book. It is made up of 15 chapters each centred on a different character from the novel, some who featured prominently and others who only got a passing mention. The first couple of chapters related to the day Becky Shaw went missing, others have looked back at the previous summer and have sort of interlinked, describing the same event from different points of view. I've seen it called a prequel but I'm not sure it's as straightforward as that. It's only about half the length of the novel so will be a quick read I think, but I'm enjoying staying in the world of Reservoir 13 a little longer.

Reservoir 13 was one of my real standouts for last year as well. I read it in the summer, but feel like I should read it at least once in every season to fully savour the nature writing. I have The Reservoir Tapes on my wishlist.

TheTurnOfTheScrew I know what you mean about the season affecting what you take from the book. The first sentence that really stopped me in my tracks was...
"The clocks went forward and the evenings opened up and the days stood a little straighter on their feet."
I'm sure part of the reason I was so struck by it is because I read it on a bleak day when the sky was low and grey and heavy...the image of the days standing straighter blew me away.

3. The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher

This is a Christmassy children’s book I started reading to DS1 (7), which features a lonely boy called William Trundle, his dad Bob Trundle, Santa, lots of elves, a nasty girl called Brenda Payne, a wicked Hunter with a passion for killing rare beasts, and the last surviving dinosaur, the Christmasaurus.

As children’s books go, it’s quite a good one. And nicely seasonal for Christmas, which is when we started reading it.

Unfortunately, it was ultimately too scary for DS1, who refused to continue listening to the book once the Hunter was introduced. He demanded that I finish it without him and tell him the ending.

I’m sure it’ll surprise no one to hear that the Hunter meets with an unpleasant fate, and everything ends well for all the other characters.

just found this thread! doing the 50 book challenge is my new year resolution.

have so far read 2 books, The Cactus, which I was a bit 'meh' about, it really annoyed me that while the story was set in the UK the main character talked about her mom

Then read The Keeper of List Things, which I enjoyed, a really beguiling, intriguing story

now on Animal, The Autobiography of a Female Body by Sarah Pascoe

1. Becoming by Michelle Obama
2. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (Audiobook)
3. To Catch a Killer by Peter Bleksley 4) Christmas at Emmerdale by Pamela Bell Did not expect literary greatness from this book, however I did expect a book without errors on every page. I have previously enjoyed books in this nostalgic genre (namely Elaine Everest's output) but couldn't get on with this at all. A story that seemed very quickly strung together to tap into the market for Christmas. Wouldn't recommend.

5) Bookworm by Lucy Mangan
I adored this book, pure comfort reading.

I'm still listening to The Hat Shop on the Corner at work and have begun reading The Traitor and the Spy by Ben MacIntyre which so far promises to be excellent.

Thanks Clueless - I read Reservoir 13 last summer so may have to reread it before reading The Reservoir Tapes as I am not sure I can remember all the characters.

I've now read;

1. The Murder of Harriet Monckton by Elizabeth Haynes. I've read several of her detective stories, but this is based on real life and covers the murder of a young woman in the 19th century. It's narrated by a variety of characters, some of whom may be the murderer. I felt this gave a good sense of the way society worked at that time, and left me feeling sorry for Harriet, and her predicament.

1. A House of Ghosts by W.C. Ryan

Fairly straightforward murder mystery, enlivened by ghosts.

1. The Corset by Laura Purcell

I read The Silent Companions by her last year, and really enjoyed it, but this wasn't as good, in my opinion. The ending seemed rushed, and I struggled to understand it, although the detail about dressmaking was fascinating.

I love that you finished the book for your DS Stitches . We read A boy called Christmas together over December which was really good and luckily not too scary.

I’m a bit concerned now as ds 7 read Christmasaurus on his own, I have no idea what it was about, it looked so innocent

I have just given up on Harriet Monckton. I ploughed through about a third, but the niggling irritation at the constant chopping and changing of narrator exploded into full blown "oh give over" when the vicar started going on about being fellated by a series of young girls.
Really wanted to like this, as remember watching TV adaptations of Victorian true crime (Constance Kent/Malice Aforethought) but hated everything about it.

Am now on some easy psycho domestic "You let me In" (was a bit confused as read "I let her in" only last week. Imaginative titles these psycho nutcase writers...)

Finished a couple of Agatha Christie's

2. The Seven Dials Mystery
Sequel to the much superior Secret of Chimneys. Not one of her best.

3. ABC murders
Classic Poirot. Re-read motivated by the BBC adaption. This version much better!

SatsukiKusakabe I think most 7 yr olds would be fine with the content of The Christmasaurus, if I were to write any guidance on the contents, I’d be noting that there’s “some mild peril.”

Unfortunately DS1 has a very low tolerance for even very mild peril.

It’s good that he’s so open with you about it stitches. My ds is sensitive too, but not as up front if something bothers him. We just get a period of poor sleep and random stroppiness until we figure out whatever it is he’s seen/heard/read One time it was the song “You Are My Sunshine”.

8. Cambridge blue - Alison Bruce. I've had this on my kindle for four years and purchased it because it was set locally. A murder mystery set in Cambridge (unsurprisingly given the title ). I enjoyed it; it wasn't as cliched as I find many crime books can be and I quickly fell for the main character, a young detective. I did snort at some of the unprofessionalism displayed and I should imagine any readers that work for the police will roll their eyes at reading it but the story was a little different from usual and kept me entertained. Enjoyed the local setting and immediately downloaded the next book in the series from the library.

9. A history of Britain in 21 women - Jenni Murray. Each chapter gives a brief history of women who have had a significant impact upon the UK. The subjects range from Boudicca to Nicola Sturgeon and cover history, politics, feminism, science and the arts. An enjoyable read and a useful overview of some women that I knew little about - has encouraged me to do further reading on some of them.

I see your old editions of "The Wind on the Moon" and raise you this one, from my bookcase. Much cherished.

I can only remember one book that I just could not finish - and I tried to read it on two separate occasions - The Quest - Wilbur Smith. I was so disappointed as his other books about Taita the Slave in ancient Egypt were wonderful. This one was like a really bad acid trip...

I would like to read some Agatha Christie this year. I remember watching the TV adaptations with my Mum, but book are always better. Miss Marple or Poirot though? Any particularly good examples any one could suggest?

TImeforaGandT I could have easily read it at another time and been itching to slap them!

I think I might have to give it another go.

Meanwhile, I've just finished book 10 - Triple Crown by Felix Francis. I enjoyed it about as much as I have enjoyed Dick Francis books so I'll be looking out for 99p ones now. In Triple Crown a British investigator into horse related crime/incidents has a visitor over from the US equivalent to see how things are done here and invites the British investigator over to America to expose a mole who is tipping off horse trainers about raids. It's a good read though I think the ending is a little far fetched, I'd be interested to see what others think.

I'm now reading Beneath the Surface by Heidi Perks. 17 year old Abigail comes home from school to find the house empty and doesn't realise anything is wrong until her younger siblings tea, bath and bedtime comes and goes and she realises that they have left. The book tells the story from different perspectives - I can't say more or it'll be a spoiler. I can thoroughly recommend it.

You win Keith - you must be even older than me!

@MogTheSleepyCat

My favourite Miss Marple is the 4.50 from Paddington and favourite Poirot story is the Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Both great books to give Agatha Christie a try.

1. The Mars Room – Rachel Kushner.

A look at female prison life in the states post 09/11, focusing heavily on one inmate, her story and the connections (however tenuous) she makes during incarceration.

I’m so torn on this one, I think because it’s an interesting and important subject matter I’m giving it too much credit. I initially hated it, the first third was looking back on her road to prison (flipping between the back story and her actual bus journey to prison which just felt a bit too clever for it’s own good).

I didn’t engage with the main character and the chopping and changing of story line and person didn’t make sense. It’s like the author had just brain dumped every story she wanted to tell about the prison experience (after binge watching Orange Is The New Black) and then crowbarred them into the one narrative.

The second half definitely drew me into the story and I raced through it. However, I still got a bit angry with some of the character focuses. The English Lit teacher was clearly chosen to get some much loved lit references in and also so that despite saying ‘you must never ask someone what they are in for’ repeatedly the audience can lap up all the gossip on why all the inmates were there.

I did enjoy the final scenes and there was clearly a good story in their somewhere I just don’t think she knew what she wanted to say.
I know the Booker likes to include challenging works (I didn’t love the Milkman but enjoyed the experiment) but this didn’t feel challenging just not ready for publishing. I’m not going to rush to pick up anything else by the author.

I definitely would have DNF'd this if it weren't a book club pick, but ultimately I'm glad I pushed through.

Keith that looks like the copy of The Wind on the moon I used to borrow from the children's library but I am not going to reveal my age!
another good children's author was Joan Aiken - Wolves of Willoughby Chase anyone?
I have just whizzed through How not to get shot & other advice from white people by D L Hughley who is apparently an American comedian. similar in tone to Dear white people etc with some excellent comedy moments e.g. get a dog with wheels if you want to ingratiate yourself with your white neighbours. "A little dog with no legs can be a lifesaver.Every time those little wheels squeak, a white person smiles". as a white person not living in America a lot of the references are lost on me but I can still appreciate most of it. This was in the new books section of the library but the label on the spine seems to indicate it will end up in sociology. Same sort of vibe as the t.v. show Atlanta and recent film Sorry to bother you in reflecting America's disenchantment with Trump, the drawbacks of capitalism and the downward spiral of society in the light of super-consumerism & the basic nastiness of one person to another. I also picked up an Anne Enright and a Margaret Forster for 10p each from the library so will be a good compare and contrast exercise haha.

Just finished #5 Romes Scared Flame the eighth book in Robert Fabbris Vespasian series.

The whole series covers the life and rise of Vespasian in Roman society. He lived through interesting times, including Julius Ceasar and the rules of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.

What a story to tell. It's written from the perspective of Vespasian and largely follows history although obviously fictionalised. This book sets up the fall of Nero. So Rome burns and is rebuilt while the equestrian class / senators work out how to get rid of Nero.

Like the wonderful Robert Graves I Claudius books a lot of the focus is on the politics and how the upper classes of Rome work. However there is lots of action and quite a lot of violence.

I suspect the target audience is male and younger than me but like the other books I found it a page turner. I see the final book Emperor of Rome covering the aftermath of Neros suicide and the year of the four emperors is out now. I will definately be adding that to my wishlist.

Not sure what #6 will be as I have a few lined up on my kindle I guess I'll just have to see what I'm in the mood for on tomorrow mornings commute.

I second mum2jakie, MogTheSleepyCat The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is by a long way my favourite Agatha Christie. I'm trying to persuade DD1 to read it.